Snow day?: District 6 defends decision to stay open

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
Deep footprints lead through a snowy hill near Michener Library on the University of Northern Colorado campus on Monday. The weekend's storm left more than 5 inches of snow in the Greeley area. More snow is expected this afternoon.

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
Icicles form on a sign on the University of Northern Colorado campus as students make their way to class on Monday. Greeley recieved more than 5 inches on new snow over the weekend.

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While city and school crews were plowing out from under the weekend storm, Greeley-Evans School District 6 officials were plowing out from a horde of Facebook comments directed at their decision to keep schools open on Monday.

District spokeswoman Theresa Myers spent most of Monday defending the district’s decision after the city was blanketed by more than 5 inches of the white stuff.

Myers said many factors go into the decision, including how long the snow is expected to fall, if city and district crews have time to remove snow from streets and parking lots, expected temperatures during the day and, simply, that kids need to be in school.

“We knew the storm was moving out, and it would give city crews a chance to plow the roads and give our crews a chance to clear our parking lots and sidewalks,” she said. “Plus, a lot of kids depend on us, and we want to be open if we can.”

Myers said a mistake by CBS 4 in Denver that included the district on a school closure list made it confusing. But the district never called the television station, and CBS removed it after Myers called them.

“There’s been LESS snow before and school has been closed WHY RISK putting children in danger?!?!” read one post. “District 6 needs to be closed PERIOD.”

“Where did you guys get the decision to have school...the bad decision store!!” another read.

Some supported the district.

“… I fail to see why everyone has their precious feelings hurt over the fact that school is not canceled,” one poster said, “especially in a school district that desperately needs every day of instruction they can get. I think it’s time people put on their big kid panties and realized life doesn’t stop when it snows, especially in Colorado. Just because you don’t want to get out of your warm bed and take your kid to school after you called in to work, doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.”

Myers said she removed many posts because of obscenities and threats against the district.

One poster agreed, commenting on a different thread:

“After reading the comments left on this site ... people wonder why our kids are the way they are ...” the post read. “All I have to say is adults, parents ... your kids, brothers or sisters lead by example ... Funny thing is everyone is saying safety. But truth be told, if school was out, most everyone would be out sledding, playing, going to stores ... ”